Faithfulness and Love

Monthly Archives: January 2014

Thursday after Ash Wednesday

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All of us are given choices in life. We can choose good things, or we can choose bad things. It may seem strange that a person would want to choose bad things, but some people have resorted to choosing bad things due to one reason or another. For example, a person who is addicted to alcohol may choose to buy alcoholic drinks, even though that the person is aware that too much of such alcoholic drinks is detrimental to one’s health. However, the urge to have a drink is great and it would require much willpower and help from others to overcome such addiction.

The same principle can also applied to today’s reading. We are given a choice in today’s reading to choose life or death. While it may seem strange for people to choose death, we can see examples of a culture of death in today’s world, where people are willing to commit abortion or use contraception for one’s own convenience and personal gratification. This is where today’s reading is a stern reminder to us: choose life and you will live and increase; choose death and you will most certainly perish.

In our lives, are we continuously making a decision to choose life? Do we value and take seriously our eternal life, or are we only interested and focused in this life on earth? Let us choose carefully and not end up regretting later.

Ash Wednesday

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Today we begin the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday. The imposition of ashes on our forehead reminds us that we are from dust and to dust we shall return. However, there is more to Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent which we can learn and reflect.

Often in our lives, we are busy with so many things. We are busy with our work, our family life, our social life, but how busy have we been with our relationship with God? Sometimes, in the midst of the hurry-burry, in the midst of the rat-race, we may have forgotten to take a good look at ourselves and see how we are progressing spiritually. The season of Lent is an opportunity to do just that.

During the season of Lent, we are encouraged to do more praying, fasting and alms-giving. These three major means of penance would not mean anything if they do not ultimately lead us to an inner conversion, a change of heart. Are we willing to take an honest look at ourselves and work towards a better relationship with God and with others? Are there areas in our life which we have been neglecting that we should address? Let us not confine our conversion to a better person only during Lent, but also continuously and consistently do so, for the betterment of our soul.

Tuesday of Week 8 Year 2

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For some of us, life tends to be encumbered with all sorts of thoughts. We think about our present situation and the situation of our family. Some think about the future and what is going to happen to their family and themselves. Others think about their financial situation, be it good or not. If we are not careful and become too engrossed with these thoughts, this could lead to all sorts of fear and anxiety.

Today’s reading reminds us “Free your minds, then, of encumbrances; control them, and put your trust in nothing but the grace that will be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. Do not behave in the way that you liked to before you learnt the truth; make a habit of obedience: be holy in all you do, since it is the Holy One who has called you, and scripture says: Be holy, for I am holy.” If we say we trust in God, then we should not be thinking too much about these other things which can distract us from our relationship with God. We do need to do our part, but there are some things and some situations which we cannot be fully in control of. There is a song called “que sera sera, whatever will be will be.” Perhaps we should be more trusting to God, and let whatever will be will be.

Monday of Week 8 Year 2

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Some of us may be attached to certain things, way of life, people, habits, etc. We seem to be unable to let go of these attachments, since we may feel that these attachments belong to us and us alone. One form of attachment which people tend to fall into is wealth, be it money and/or property. A person could be so attached to wealth that sharing it or giving it away could pose a problem. Wealth becomes like a god to some, as they think that their happiness depends on what and how much they have.

When wealth becomes more important to us, then we may fall into the same trap as the rich man in today’s Gospel. Like the rich man, we may have forgotten what is more important to us. In another part of the Gospel, we are reminded that we cannot serve 2 masters, God and wealth. In today’s Gospel, the rich man may seem to have observed the commandments, but his heart is not attached to God, his heart is attached to the vast wealth he has. What about us? Have we become like the rich man, only concerned about our wealth, and forgotten or ignoring God? Can we bring our wealth with us when we die? Certainly not! But sometimes some of us only realise this when it is too late and we are about to leave this earth. Are we setting ourselves up for eternal happiness or otherwise?

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

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Some of us are worry-warts. We worry about our finances, our future, our children’s future, our health, our job, our retirement plans, what to eat, where to go for holiday, etc. Some people even worry that they have nothing to worry about.

Certainly, we need to do our part and work hard for our families and ourselves. But we should not become too concerned to the point where it becomes sinful, as we are eaten up by anxiety, fear, and despair. Today’s Gospel and readings are not telling us to become irresponsible and expect others to provide for us. Instead, we should note:

  1. Stop worrying. What can you gain from worrying and how would that improve our situation?
  2. God sees us as extremely valuable and precious.
  3. We are citizens of God’s Kingdom and we should “Set your hearts on his kingdom first, and on his righteousness, and all these other things will be given you as well.”

God knows our needs and would grant them if we ask with persistence and with sincerity. Are we willing to let God guide us and help us?

Housekeeping – Week 7 Year 2

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For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:

23 February 2014 – 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
24 February 2014 – Monday of Week 7 Year 2
25 February 2014 – Tuesday of Week 7 Year 2
26 February 2014 – Wednesday of Week 7 Year 2
27 February 2014 – Thursday of Week 7 Year 2
28 February 2014 – Friday of Week 7 Year 2

Friday of Week 7 Year 2

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When we say we would do something, do we really mean it? Sometimes we say “yes” but our hidden meaning is “no.” Other times, we say “yes” but actually mean “maybe.” But how many of us are consistent when we say “yes” and really mean “yes?”

Today’s reading reminds us: “do not swear by heaven or by the earth, or use any oaths at all. If you mean ‘yes’, you must say ‘yes’; if you mean ‘no’, say ‘no.’ Otherwise you make yourselves liable to judgement.” Sometimes we get caught in a situation where we make a promise and are unable to keep it. We may only end up embarrassing ourselves and create problems because of our folly. This is why we should not simply make oaths or promises without seriously and carefully considering the consequences. Why “cari pasal” or “look for trouble” in this way? Are we committing ourselves just to please others and hopefully look good? Or are we doing so to glorify God?

Thursday of Week 7 Year 2

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Are we a just people? Do we treat others fairly? Some of us have maids helping to care for our loved ones at home. Are we just in our treatment towards them? From time to time, we hear horror stories of maids, factory workers and other migrant workers being mistreated. Some are even being paid pittance for the amount of work they do. Some don’t get a rest day, because some of us think that we had paid a huge sum to hire them and bring them into the country, and we think that it is right for us to get the most of our money.

However, today’s reading serves us a warning: “Labourers mowed your fields, and you cheated them – listen to the wages that you kept back, calling out; realise that the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. On earth you have had a life of comfort and luxury; in the time of slaughter you went on eating to your heart’s content. It was you who condemned the innocent and killed them; they offered you no resistance.” When we mistreat other people for our own gain, we are only bringing condemnation towards ourselves. We may not experience punishment here on earth, as we think that we are clever enough to circumvent the law. However, we forget that God is watching us. Are we ready to answer Him when we meet Him face to face?

Wednesday of Week 7 Year 2

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Every now and then, we hear people say: “I am proud of my accomplishments” or “that man became rich because he is a self-made man.” Also, we hear in advertisements on television selling products with words like: “Proudly produced by XYZ Corporation.” Is it wrong for us to be proud? If we are proud because what we are doing is ultimately to glorify God, then that is a different matter. But how many of us are proud in this way? How many of us would take credit and think that we did it our way and succeeded? When we become proud, we become so full of ourselves and think that we can do without God’s help.

This is precisely what the reading warns us. The reading says: “You never know what will happen tomorrow: you are no more than a mist that is here for a little while and then disappears. The most you should ever say is: ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we shall still be alive to do this or that.’ But how proud and sure of yourselves you are now! Pride of this kind is always wicked. Everyone who knows what is the right thing to do and doesn’t do it commits a sin.” Have we forgotten who we are and where we come from? Let us take heed and change our ways, walking humbly before God.

Tuesday of Week 7 Year 2

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How content are we in life? Some of us may be guilty of wanting more and more of things and even people, causing us to commit sin in our pursuit to attain what we want and satisfy our desire (which can never be fully satisfied). Today’s reading tells us: “Where do these wars and battles between yourselves first start? Isn’t it precisely in the desires fighting inside your own selves? You want something and you haven’t got it; so you are prepared to kill. You have an ambition that you cannot satisfy; so you fight to get your way by force. Why you don’t have what you want is because you don’t pray for it; when you do pray and don’t get it, it is because you have not prayed properly, you have prayed for something to indulge your own desires.” The problem that we face is, are we praying to God for our own selfish wants, or have we learnt to pray for His glory?

Instead of focusing our efforts in attaining temporary things here on earth, perhaps we should take heed of what the reading reminds us: “Give in to God, then; resist the devil, and he will run away from you. The nearer you go to God, the nearer he will come to you. Clean your hands, you sinners, and clear your minds, you waverers. Look at your wretched condition, and weep for it in misery; be miserable instead of laughing, gloomy instead of happy. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up.” Are we wanting to be with God for eternity, or are we setting ourselves up for an eternity away from God? Let us choose wisely, as we have only one choice.